Land Administration
Since gaining independence from Soviet rule, Uzbekistan has shifted towards private ownership of urban or non-agricultural land, with most land now held under different types of leaseholds. Housing, particularly in urban areas, is predominantly privately owned. The land administration system in Uzbekistan is a subject of ongoing reform, with initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of state ownership of land, the consolidation of agricultural land, and the development of an agricultural land market.
Energy
Since 2021, the Namangan region has been undergoing a significant transition in its energy sector, including the development of a large-scale solar project known as the Namangan Site Solar PV Park, spanning over 700 hectares. These initiatives form part of Uzbekistan’s broader energy sector reforms, aiming to shift from a government-owned and operated energy sector model to competitive markets in gas, oil, and electricity. .
Housing
The housing sector in Uzbekistan faces several challenges, including affordability, supply, and quality issues. State ownership of urban land has acted as a disincentive for the construction of additional housing units, resulting in a low yearly construction rate of 1.9 units per 1,000 people. The government aims to increase the volume of housing construction by 1.5 times compared to the previous year.
Disaster Risk Management
Effective disaster risk management is critical in Uzbekistan, a region susceptible to various natural hazards, including flooding, earthquakes, drought, landslides and extreme heat. These risks are compounded by factors such as rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure. Since 1997, the Government of Uzbekistan has made significant progress in disaster risk management, transitioning from a reactive approach focused on emergency responses to a proactive strategy aimed at mitigating disaster risks.
Drinking Water Supply
As of 2021, Namangan faced significant challenges with its drinking water supply and quality, with numerous households lacking connections to the centralized water supply system. The Improvement of Water Supply in Yangikurgan District and the City of Namangan Project, launched in 2020 and spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Housing and Communal Services, aims to replace and rebuild water supply infrastructure in these areas, benefiting approximately 185,000 people in these communities.
Urban Roads & Transport
The Namangan Regional Development Strategy (2022-2030), intends to invest in key transport infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on road and rail projects. However, despite Namangan’s expressed interest in developing green urban transport corridors (GUTC) and expanding the fleet of electric buses, no financial commitments have been made toward these initiatives.
Solid Waste Management
The Sustainable Solid Waste Management Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank, is working to strengthen institutional capacity for solid waste management. The project also focuses on raising public awareness and fostering community participation in waste reduction and recycling across cities and regions in Uzbekistan, including Namangan.
Local Administration
Uzbekistan operates as a unitary presidential republic, with a subnational two-tier system involving elected local councils and appointed local state executive governments. However, Uzbekistan is still characterized by a relatively high degree of centralization in decision-making.